Electric lamp.



J. C. STEARNS.

ELECTRIC LAMP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1914.

' 1115033. Patented 0012.27. 1914.

. Jidtmrma JASOhl' C. STEARNS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC LAM? capable of several uses but especially adapted for use as a head light upon automobiles and other vehicles.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a construction for this purpose in which the lamp can be focused by moving it axially with respect to the mirror without opening the casing or door; to provide a construction in which the frame which supports the lamp socket will also hold the mirror in position at the center and thus do inserted in the casing with it, so that the assembling of the partswill be simplified be described. At the center of the reflector away with the usual series of screws around.

the edge and also hold it yieldingly so that the vibration will not work the parts loose;

to provide a construction for this frame of such a'character that the entire frame can be secured to the back of the reflector and and the cost thereof reduced; to provide a simple construction in which by a very simple spring arrangement, *the ratchet which controls the motion of the lamp out and in and the terminal which presses against the lamp base will be yieldingly held in position so as to prevent sidewise motion ofthe lamp; and to provide im-- p provements in the details of construction of the above mentioned parts and especially thp mechanism for adjusting or focusing the lamp from the exterior of the casing. Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which-- igure 1 is a central sectional view of a lamp casing provided with preferred embodiment of thlS invention showing the parts at the center in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a central sectional view of theparts connecting the casing and reflector; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of certain of these parts removed 7 from the frame and separated from each other; Fig. 4- is a longitudinal central sectional view of oneend of the ratchet mechanism; Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the same; Fig. 6 is an end elevation-of the washer Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 9, 1914. Serial No. 830,783.

constituting the other member of the ratchet shown in Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the lamp socket shown in Fig. 7; Fig 10 is anend view of the contact member showmg the retaining screw removed therefrom; and Fig. 11 is a longitudinal central sectional view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified form of the invention.

The invention is shown as applied'to a sheet or spun-metal head lamp casing 10 of the usual construction, except that at the center of the rear it is provided with a perforation having a shoulder 11. At the outer edge it is provided with a sheet metal ring 12- shown as brazed on the edge of the casing, although it can be formed in any other desired way. This ring is provided with a curved flange 13 at its inner edge for receiving a curved flange 14 on the outer edge of the sheet metal reflector 15. This flange 14: simply rests at its'concave side against the convex side of the flange 13 and is held against the same by the mechanism about to it is provided with a perforation throu h which passes a shouldered bushing 16. n the exterior of thisbushing is a screw-thread which receives a thread on the inside of the end of a tubular connecting frame 17. This frame is arranged axially and is secured in osition on the reflector by screwin it on the bushing. It is then secured to the easing by a lock nut 18 on its outer end which and presses up against the Shoulder 11. will be seen therefore, that this frame 17 cured in position in a very simple manner. The assembling of these parts is complicated ordinarily by the fact that when ready to assemble the mirror. is all silvered and that surface is in the condition in which it is desired to put it on the market, quently it must be handled very carefully and the less manipulation it is subjected to, the better. With this construction it will be seen that the bushing can be dropped into the perforation in the end of the mirror and the frame secured to it from the back withd evice, the adjusting stud appearing 1n sec-- tion; Fig. 7 is a slde elevation partly. in seccan be inserted with the reflector and se-- enters the opening in the back of the casinIg Conse- I wswmcwmamm. 2.

out touching-the silvered surface. After these parts are firmly secured together byscrewing up the frame the mirror can be handled'by-its edge and put into place very readily. Then the nut 18 is screwed up from the outside and the parts are thus securely fixed in position. This is a great convenience in the assembling of the parts and reduces the cost of that operation. It will be obvious that having screwed the frame 11 as far as it will go on the bushing 16, t e nut 18 can be manipulatedto hold the reflector and casing together with any desired amount of pressure. These parts being of thinmetal, there is enough give in them and in the ring 12 to take up thechanges due to vibration and they are held together with a yielding pressure.

The frame 17 carries withinit a. number of elements which are assembled as a whole with it. a At the rear end this casing is provided with an integral end plate 20 having a central circular perforation 21 therethrough, which perforation is surrounded by a set of ratchet teeth 22. Through this perforation extends the shank 23 of an adjust:

} ing stud. The shape of thisshank at thispoint is shown in Fig. 6. It has a slotted head 24: on the outer end by which it can'be manipulated. This head is so slottedthat it can be operated either by a screw-driver or by inserting a coin, as for example, a cent or dime, and turning the same. 23 of this adjustable stud is .adapted'to en'- 1gage in slots 26 in the end of a cam sleeve 27 aving a helical groove 31. This sleeve is hollow and the stud passes through it, being held to it by a screw 28. Between this sleeve and the ratchet 22 is-a washer 29 having corwasher is provided wlth a pair of legs 34 and is centrally perforated so as to fit on to a cylindrical pro ection 3 5'which extends out atthe rear of the lamp socket 36. -On the projection 35 is apin 37 which is ada ted to enter the helical groove 31 in the sur ace of the cam sleeve 27. The ends of the legs 34 are pressed to the left in; these figures by the spring 30, pass through perforations in the bottom of the lamp socket. and engage the surface of a member 40 which constitutes a connection for the electric wire 41. This is one lamp terminal, the frame constituting I the other terminal. This connector or wire The shank- 41- is secured in position in the member 40 6'5 which is formed of insulating material by a terminalscrew 42. The wire extends out of the frame through elongated slotsf43 and. 53 in the socket and frame. This lamp socket as usual is provided with L-shaped slots 44 for studs 45 on the base 46 of the lamp.

It will be obvious that the spring 30 not only holds the, two ratchet rings to ether with a yielding pressure, but also hol sthe terminal screw 42 against the end of the lamp base when the lamp is in position. It also holds the lamp socket itsel mg these arts with a yielding pressure, they are not likely to work loose or get out of so order in practice. The operation*required for ad ustment is'extremely' simple, the head turned in 24 of the adjusting stud bein either direction to cause the stu 37 to move '1 along in the groove 31.. The function of the g5 ratchet, of course, is simply to hold the parts i 'in any adjusted position and permit them to be adjusted inelther direction readily.

" In the :form shown in Fig. 11, most of-the shine conditions prevail, but in that case the sprin outside the projection 35 simply holds t e la chet, which is not shown in this figure, and the lamp socket. In this oasean additional sprin 50 is shown for'holdin i the contact mem er against the endof the amp base.

Althou h I have illustrated and described only two orms of the invention, I amaware of the fact that other" modifications, can be made therein without departing from the 10 scope of the. invention as expressed in the claims. -Therefore, I do not wish to.be

limited in these respects, but

What I do claim is 1. The combination with a lamp casing 10 and a reflector therein, said casing aving a flange extending inwardly at the edge/thereof and the outer end of said reflector extending over the front of said flange, of a connecting frame located between the reflector 11 and easing secured to the rear side of the reflector at one end, a locknut centrally located at the rear of the outside of the easing for securing. the frameto-the casing and thus secur ng the reflector and casing to- 11 gether, a longitudinally adjustable lam socket pro ecting from t e inner end of sai frame into the in nor. of the reflector, -a slotted head concentric with said lock nut on'the rear of the casing, means connected 12 with and operated by said slotted head for adjusting said lam socket, a spring-pressed terminal extending mto and forming the bottom ,of said socket, and a conductor connected with said terminal and extending 1:

through the side of said frame into the space between the-reflector and casing.

2. The combination with a lamp casing By hold-".

20 ing, a longitudinally adjustable lamp socket projecting from the inner end of said frame 65 ing a terminal therein projecting into the sition,

and a reflector therein, said casing having a flange extending inwardly at the edge connected with one of said ratchet members andaccessible from the rear of the casing for turnin'gone ratchet member on the other to adjust said lamp socket back and forth.

3. The combination with a lamp casing and a reflector therein, of a connecting frame secured to the rear of the reflector, means for securing said frame in position on the easinto the interior of the reflector for holding a lamp, a pair of ratchet members at the outer end of said frame, means connected with one of said ratchet members and accessible from the rear of the casing for turning one ratchet member on the other to adjust said lamp socket back and forth, and yielding means within said frame for holding the ratchet members together and exerting a pressure on said lamp socket.

4:- -The combination with a lamp casing and reflector inside the same, of a frame connecting the reflector and easing, means outside the casing for securing the frame in poa lamp socket in the inner end of said frame, means accessible from the rear of the casing for adjusting said lamp socket back and forth, said means comprising a air of ratchet members, a terminal memr in said frame having a terminal therein projecting into the socket and adapted to engage the end of a lamp base fitting in said socket, and a spring in said frame bearing at one end on one of the ratchet members to hold it against the other ratchet member and bearing at the other end on saidterminal member to hold the terminal against the lamp with a yielding pressure.

' 5. The combination with a lamp casing and a reflector, of a frame connectin the reflector and-casing, a lamp socket in t e inner end of said frame, a pair of ratchet members, a terminal member in said frame hav socket andadaptcd to engage the end of a lamp base in said socket, and a spring in said frame hearing at one end 'onone of the ratchet members to hold it-against the other ratchet'member and hearing at the other end on said terminal member to hold the terminal againstthelamp with a yieldin g pressure.

6. In a focusing device for an electric lamp, the combination with a mirror and a lamp casing, of a frame fixed. to both of them and located between them, an adjusting stud extending from the end of said frame and easing, said frame being provided with a ratchet member fixed thereto, a second ratchet member cooperating with the first ratchet member and arranged to rotate with said adjusting stud, a sleeve rotatable with said adjusting stud and hav-' ing a helical groove therein, and a lamp socket movably mounted in said frame and having a pin engaging said groove. I i 7. In a focusing device for an electric lamp, the combinationwith a mirror and a lamp casing, of an adjusting stud extending fixed ratchet member, a"

into the casing, a second ratchet member cotiperating with the first ratchet member and arranged to rotate with said adjusting stud, a sleeve rotatable with said adjusting stud and having a helical groove therein, a lamp socket movably mounted in said frame and having a pin engaging said groove, and a spring for exerting pressure between the second member of said ratchet andthelamp socket, whereby they are both held yieldingly.

8. In a focusing device for an electric lamp, the comblnatlon wlth a mirror and a lamp casing, of a frame fixed to both of them and located between them, an adjusting stud extending from the end of said frame and easing, said frame being provided with a ratchet member ratchet member cojiperating with the first ratchet member and arranged to rotate with said adjusting stud, a sleeve rotatable with said adjusting stud and having a helical groovetherein, a lamp socket movably mounted in said frame and having a pin engaging said groove, means for exerting pressure between the second member of said ratchet and the lamp socket, whereby they are both held yieldingly, a contact member located within the map socket and yieldingly pressed forward so: as to engage a lam base therein with a yielding pressure, an an electrical connection extending 'o ut wardly through the frame to said contact member.

9. In a focusing device for an electric lamp, the combination with a mirronand a lamp socket, of a non-rotatable ratchet ring, a second ratchet ring rotatabh mounted with respect to said mirror and coiiperating with the first ratchet ring, anadjust ing device connected with the lamp socket and adapted to be held in adjusted position by the ratchet device, and a spring for holding the ratchet rings together.

10. In a focusing device for an electric lamp,the combination with a mirror and a lamp socket therein, of two cooperating ratchet rings having teeth on their flat sur- In testimony whereof 'I have hereunto set faces,"one rotatable and the other nqn-rotamy hand, in the presence of two subscribtable, a stud and slot connection, theslot: ing'witnesses being helical and-connected with one ratchet Y j Q JASON C. STEARNS- 5 ring, and the stud being connected with Witnesses: the other, and a, spring pressing said ratchet A B RT E. FAY,-

rings'together. l V j C. FoRREsT WESSON. 

